Walking in Neymar Jr?s Footsteps, Spanish Football Star Once Gave Up Her Track and Field Career to Join Lionel Messi?s Favourite Team

Team Spain has created history! They have reached the finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time. With nine staunch players in the Barcelona soccer team this year, the Spanish club is only one step away from winning the prestigious World Cup. On August 15, the team dominated the Sweden team, including FC Barcelona?s forwards and Sweden?s national team player Fridolina Rolfo with a score of 2-1.

Throughout this match, one athlete who swiftly navigated through the grounds became the star of the show. The 19-year-old footballer Salma Paralluelo, who played an incredible game in the semi-finals, struck the last goal that led the team to victory. Paralluelo after completing her contract with Villarreal Club, the athlete followed in Neymar Jr.?s footsteps and joined Lionel Messi’s club, FC Barcelona, last summer. However, before her success in soccer, the athlete had a promising career in other sports as well.

Salma Parrallulelo?s promising career

Salma Parraluelo has the ability to do it all. The athlete, before pursuing her dreams of joining the football club, was on the path of track and field. The 19-year-old who was the second younger athlete in history to participate in the European Champion (2019), began her career in Zaragoza.

The athlete has even won a bronze in the Spanish Indoor Athletics Championships in a 400-meter event. On August 5, a women?s sports X account (Twitter), Attacking Third, posted the accomplishment of Paralluelo with a picture of her on a Soccer ground and a track.

According to the caption, “Salma Paralluelo gave up a promising track and field career to sign with Barcelona last summer.”

Further, while talking about her achievements on the 400-meter tracks and the Spanish club, the tweet also revealed, “She set multiple U-20 Spanish records in the 400 meter and 400 meter hurdles and is the second youngest athlete to ever compete at the European indoor championship.” “She has scored 22 goals for club and country this season and has led Spain to the World Cup Final.”

Parralluleo’s life was truly in a different dimension before joining the Soccer world. However, the athlete who wanted to pursue both her passions had to give up athletics after facing injuries at the beginning of her soccer career.

Paralluelo giving up Track and Field career amid facing injuries

Just as Salma Paralluelo, after landing in Villarreal, started to pursue her dreams the athlete tore her ACL in 2021 and had to sit out of the game for nine months, In July 2022, after securing a seat at a Spanish football club, the athlete faced another injury, which led to a painful farewell to Athletics.

Due to the injury, the athlete could not represent Spain in the European Championship in England. While talking about leaving track and field life behind, the athlete revealed to the media, “It was difficult to give up one sport, but it was a step I had to take.”

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However, after facing so many hardships and taking hard decisions, the athlete has found success in Lionel Messi?s club. Hopefully, now with the same zeal and staunch moves, the Salma Paralluelo will help the Spanish women?s club lift the trophy for the first time.

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